Nozzle with vacuum operated valve tripping means



D. L. BILLIAN 3,196,908 NOZZLE WITH VACUUM OPERATED VALVE TRIPPING MEANSJuly 27, 1965 Filed March 11, 1963 United States Patent O 3,196,968NGZZZLE Wl'iH VAEUUM PERATED VALVE TREFFEN@ MEANS Donald l... Billian,Dayton, (Ehio, assigner, by mesne assignments, to Emco Wheaton, Inc.,Dayton, Ohio Filed Mar. ill, 1953, Ser. No.. 264,179 lil Claims. (El.141-269) rlfhis invention relates to dispensing nozzles and isparticularly concerned with an automatic dispensing nozzle for fuels andthe like, such as gasoline.

Automatic dispensing nozzles of the nature referred to are known andcomprise arrangements whereby the nozzle will automatically trip ciosedwhen a container being filled thereby, such as an automobile gasolinetank, reaches a predetermined level. Such nozzles are widely known andare used extensively in iilling stations. The nozzles are constructed sothat they can be latched in open position and will automatically tripclosed by means of a vacuum operated latch.

Such nozzles are usually bulky and heavy and expensive. In issued PatentNo. 3,062,247 assigned to the same assignee as the instant application,there is shown an automatic nozzle of the nature referred tocharacterized in that it is extremely compact while nevertheless havingfull capacity for delivery of liquid at the maximum desirable rate. Thepresent invention relates to an improvement in a nozzle of this type andthe present nozzle is constructed so as to have the same generalphysical characteristics with respect to compactness, ease of serviceand simplicity of manufacture.

A particular object of the present invention is the pro vision of animproved nozzle construction of the nature referred to in which the bodyof the nozzle is always filled with fluid.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an automatic tripnozzle of the nature referred to in which the degree of vacuum availablefor tripping purposes is always at a relatively high level, wherebytripping of the nozzle can be accomplished as well at low delivery ratesas it can at high delivery rates.

Still another object of this invention is the provision of an improvednozzle of the nature referred to in which means are provided formaintaining the suction for tripping purposes at a high level, but whichmeans does not in any way interfere with the pressure drop across thenozzle necessary for causing liquid flow therethrough.

These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent uponreference to the following specification taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FlGURE 1 is a side view of a nozzle constructed according to the presentinvention partially in section to show the internal constructionthereof;

FIGURE 2 is a partial plan sectional view drawn in somewhat enlargedscale and indicated by line 2-2 on FIGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional View drawn in slightly enlarged scaleand indicated by section line 3-3 on FIG- URE l;

FGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view indicated by line 4 4- on FGURE2, and

FiGURE 5 is a fragmentary sectional view drawn at enlarged scale andshowing details of construction of a check valve in the valve body atthe discharge endthereof.

Referring to the drawings somewhat more in detail, a dispensing nozzleaccording to the present invention comprises a body part ll@ having athreaded inlet iitting l2 to which a dispensing hose can be attached.The body l@ has a iiow passage illitherethrough leading from thethreaded inlet through which the liquids being dispensed iiib PatentedJuly 27, 1965 iiow. The liow passage 14 comprises a valve seat 16through which the fluid passes to a cavity i8 and which cavitycommunicates via a passage 2d with the discharge end 22 of the owpassage. The discharge end 22 of the flow passage communicates with thedischarge tube 24 which is detachably connected with the body of thenozzle.

The valve seat 16 is adapted for engagement by a valve Amember 26 springurged downwardly by a spring 28 that bears on the underside of a cap 30threaded to the Valve body and of a size to permit the entire valvemember assembly and spring to be inserted into the valve body from aboveor to be removed therefrom merely by removing cap 30.

The valve member includes an actuating rod portion 32 extendingsealingly downwardly through the bottom of the valve body. A lever 34-pivoted at 36 to a rod 38 is operable for moving the valve memberupwardly within the valve body to open the liow passage for the passageof fluid therethrough. At the opposite end of lever 34 from its pivotalconnection with rod 3S, is a latch member Lit] having a plurality ofnotches arranged therealong and which notches are adapted for engagementwith the lever 3ft to hold the valve in its open position until the tripmechanism trips off. Member 40 is advantageously formed of spring wireand lever 34 can swing transversely enough to engage and disengage thelever from the notches of member 4G.

The rod 3S previously referred to, extends through a shouldered sleeve42 which is mounted in a correspondingly shouldered bore 44 formed inthe valve body.

Bore 4d is closed by a cap d6 threaded into the upper end of the boreand by removing the cap 46 and the parts located within the bore can beassembled therein or removed therefrom.

A compression spring 48 bears between the upper end of sleeve 42 and theunderside of a screw 50 threaded into the upper end of rod 38. Thisprovides a bias on the rod urging it toward the position which itoccupies in FiG- URES 1 and 3.

The trip mechanism for the valve will be seen in FlG- URES 2 and 3. Thistripping mechanism comprises a cavity 52 formed in the side of the valvebody on the side opposite the passage 2t) that leads from the downstreamside of the valve seat to the discharge end of the valve.

Within the cavity 52 there is mounted a diaphragm S4 to which isattached a forked roller carrier 56 which extends inwardly into a recess5S so as to embrace the sleeve 42.. A pair of rollers 6@ are mounted inthe roller carrier and are adapted for being retained in position byspring clip 62. The carrier 56 and spring clip 62 are attached to Vthediaphragm by means of rivets 64.

The sleeve 42 is provided with a notch 66 for receiving the rollers andlikewise the rod 38 is also notched for receiving the rollers. A spring7tl acts on the diaphragm urging it toward rod 3S so that the rollersare normally engaged with the notches as will best be seen in FIGURES 2and 3. As is known in the art of self tripping nozzles, the diaphragm isadapted for iiexing outwardly to withdraw the rollers from the notch inrod 33 whereupon the spring acting on `the valve member will force itclosed regardless of the position of lever 34.

For sealing the diaphragm in the cavity 52, there is a gasket 72 and acap 74 threaded into the mouth of the recess. This arrangement providesfor clamping the periphery of the diaphragm sealingly against the bottomof the cavity 52.

The cap 74 comprises a flange engaging the gasket 72 and this flange isprovided with a plurality of notches 76 so that there is an annularspace 73 about the inner end of cap 7d communicating directly with thediaphragm.

The annular space 78 communicates via passage S0 with an annular space82 in the region of the discharge end of the valve body part 10. Thedischarge end of the valve body part is adapted for receiving the upperend of discharge tube 84, which is held in place on the body by a clampnut 86 threaded to the body, as will be seen in FIGURES 1 and 2. Thedischarge tube adjacent clamp nut 86 is provided with an annular breakoff groove 88 so that extreme loading on the tube will cause it to snapofi1 from the valve body. This will protect the main part of the valve,hose and dispensing pump from damage in the event of an automobilecommencing to drive away from a pump with the nozzle still in the tankinlet of the tank. Further, the discharge tube could be of a relativelyduetile material such as aluminum, and it would deform relativelyreadily and could be pulled out from the nut, but it is preferable torely on the break off groove.

It will be seen that the nut pulls the discharge valve toward the valvebody and this is availed of for pulling the innermost end of thedischarge tube into sealing engagement with the seal ring 90 provided inthe valve body and abutting a vent bushing 92 carried in the valve body.Vent bushing 92 has a passage therethrough communicating with annularspace 82 previously referred to that is connected by channel 80 withannular space 7S adjacent to tripping mechanism diaphragm. The ventbushing has a tube connector 96 therein projecting from the vent businginto the end of discharge tube 84. This tube connector is availed of forreceiving the upper end of a control tube 98 that extends down thedischarge tube to be connected at its lower end with a tting 100 havingan opening through the side wall of the discharge tube. Control tube 98,in the event the discharge tube is broken off from the valve body, willslip out of tube connector 96, but in normal operation, a fluid tightconnection exists between control tube 98 and tube connector 96.

Vent bushing 92 abuts a seat ring 102 in the valve body, and togetherwith the vent bushing 92, defines the annular space 82. Seat ring 102has an annular clearance from the extreme inner end of vent bushing 92as indicated at 104 in FIGURE 5 and has radial clearance therefrom asindicated at 106 in FIGURE 5. These communicating spaces are, in turn,communicated with annular space 82 by way of passage 103 formed in seatring 102.

Seat ring 102 provides a seat for a restrictor plug 110 provided in thevalve body at the discharge end thereof immediately prior to theconnection to the valve body of the discharge tube 84. This restrictorplug is biased by spring 112 toward seat ring 102 and serves as a checkvalve to maintain the body of the valve filled with liquid at all times.The restrictor plug however, will move against the bias of spring 112when the main valve member 26 of the valve body 10 is opened and permitfluid to ow from the valve body into discharge tube 84.

A chamber 114 in which the restrictor plug is reciprocably mounted isfreely communicated with the downstream side of the restrictor plug bybore 116 extending axially through the restrictor plug.

The restrictor plug cooperates with the seat 118 of the seat ring 102 inorder to produce the suction which acts on diaphragm 54 to causetripping of valve. This comes about because the restrictor plug and theseat ring form a venturi passage and a reduced pressure is establishedtherein in the throat thereof which is in the region that the space 104between the vent bushing and the seat ring opens into.

It will be observed in FIGURE 5 that the restrictor plug is generallyconical, but is made up of different contours distributed along thelength thereof. The purpose of this is to provide means for maintaininga high degree of suction in the throat of the venturi, namely in theregion of annular space 104, while at the same time not materiallyinhibiting or restricting fluid ilow through valve body. By the useofthe restrictor plug, widely varying rates of flow through the valvebody can be had without any material change in the pressure drop throughthe valve body and without any material change in the high degree ofsuction established in the throat of the venturi. Thus, as opposed toautomatic trip nozzles according to the prior art, a high degree ofsuction for tripping the nozzle is available even at extremely low flowrates through the valve body. Tripping of valve automatically thusbecomes a reliable function, and the valve according to the presentinvention can be set at a low flow rate and will trip closed at theproper time and will not require the close attention that valvesaccording to the prior art require.

With regard to the construction of the restrictor plug, it will be seento be made up at the extreme rear end of a straight cylindricalprojection 120 which slidably lits in the bore forming chamber 114.Following the straight cylindrical portion of the projection 120 is aportion which tapers inwardly at an angle of 33 to the radial direction.This portion is indicated at 122. Immediately following portion 122 is aportion 124 that tapers inwardly at an angle of 12 to the axis of theplug. In order to reduce the amount of travel required for therestrictor plug between its full open and full closed positions, theportion 124 terminates in a step 126 which has an angle of 33 relativeto the radial direction and immediately following this step is anotherportion 128 tapering inwardly at an angle of 12 to the longitudinal axisof the restrictor plug. This last mentioned tapered portion terminatesat a relatively large step 130 corresponding in angle to step 126, andthis last step leads inwardly to a final small cylindrical projection132 of the restrictor plug. The angle of the littting 118 of the seatring is advantageously selected to be about 40 to the longitudinal axisof the restrictor plug.

In operation, when the main valve member of the valve is opened, thefluid within the valve body is placed under pressure, and this pressureacting on the exposed area of projection 122 of the restrictor plug willforce the restrictor plug backwardly in chamber 114 against the bias ofspring 112 and will permit the pressurized fluid to flow from the valvebody to the discharge tube. As the flow rate increases restrictor plug110 will move further toward the right, thus increasing the flow areabetween the restrictor plug and the seat ring. This area increases inaccordance with the configuration of the restrictor plug and varies,generally, as the rate of flow through the valve body. By controllingthe flow area so that it corresponds to the rate of ow through the valvebody, the said flow area is always maintained full of liquid, and thusconditions are created in the throat of the venturi, and maintainedtherein leading to the establishing of a high degree of suction in theventuri throat at all ow rates. The restrictor plug, however, offers nosubstantial restriction to uid ilow through the valve body to the extentthat excessive pressure is required to maintain high flow rates.

While the valve restrictor as described has been found to besatisfactory at all flow rates itself, it has been discovered that theoperation of the valve at reduced ow rates is improved by arranging inthe upstream end of the discharge tube, or immediately downstream of theventuri passage, straightening vanes 134 which may take the form of twoflat vanes arranged in intersecting relation, as will be seen in FIGURES2 and 4. The precise action of these vanes is not completely understood7but apparently they serve to prevent fluid from commencing to swirl inthe discharge end of the valve at low tlow rates, which might tend tointerfere with the suction created in the venturi throat. At any rate,the operation of the valve at extremely low flat rates is improved bythe provision of the straightening vanes above described.

It will be understood that this invention is susceptible to modificationin order to adapt it to different usages yof frusto-conical portions insnoepen and conditions; and accordingly, it is desired to comprehendsuch modications within this invention as may fall within the scope ofthe appended claims.

l claim:

l. In an automatic nozzle; a body having a flow passage therethrough, amain valve member in the flo-w passage, means for lat-ching the valvemember in open position including suction operated tripping means fortripping the valve member closed upon the development of a predetermineddegree of suction in the tripping means, a venturi in the ilow passagedownstream of the valve member, said venturi having a throat wherein`suction is established by iiuid ow through said passage, a channelleading from the venturi throat to said tripping means, a restrictorplug on the upstream side of said venturi separate from said valvemember and extending into said venturi, said plug tapering inwardly inthe downstream direction, and means resiliently biasing said plug in thedownstream direction.

2. In an automatic nozzle; a body having a flow passage therethrough, amain valve member in the ow passage, means for latching the Valve memberin open position including suction operated tripping means for trippingthe valve member closed upon the development of a predetermined degreeof suction in the tripping means, a venturi in the ilow passagedownstream of the valve member, said venturi having a throat whereinsuction is established by uid flow through said passage, -a channelleading from the venturi throat to said tripping means, a restrictorplug on the upstream side of said venturi separate from said valvemember and extending into said venturi, said plug tapering inwardly inthe downstream direction, and means resiliently biasing said plug in thedownstream direction, said plug having a larger maximum diameter thansaid venturi and seating in the venturi when tluid ow is interrupted insaid passage.

3 In an automatic trip nozzle having a suction operating trippingmechanism; a body having a liow passage therethrough, a main valvemember controlling said passage, and means in the ilow passage forming aventuri with a throat wherein suction is established by flow ot' uidthrough said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to saidtripping mechanism, a restrictor plug on the upstream -side of saidventuri separate from said valve member and extending into said venturi,said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, and meansresiliently biasing said plug in the downstream direction, said plughaving a larger maximum diameter than said venturi throat and seating inthe venturi when fluid ilow is interrupted in said passage by closing ofsaid main valve member, said plug comprising a plurality substantiallyend to end relation.

4. In an automatic trip nozzle having a suction operating trippingmechanism; a body having a iiow passage therethrough, a main valvemember controlling said passage, and means in the flow passage forming aVenturi with a throat wherein suction is established by iiow of fluidthrough said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to saidtripping mechanism, a restrictor plug on the upstream side of saidventuri separate from said valve member and extending into said venturi,said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction, and meansresiliently biasing said plug in the downstream direction, said plughaving a larger maximum diameter than said venturi throat 4and -seatingin the venturi when uid ow is interrupted in said passage, said plugcomprising a plurality of frusto-conical portions in substantially endto end relation, and shoulder means between at least two adjacent onesof said portions and facing in the downstream direction.

5. In an automatic trip nozzle having a suction operating trippingmechanism; a body having a flow passage therethrough, a main valvemember controlling said passage, and means in the flow passage forming aventuri with a throat wherein suction is established by ilow of fluidthrough said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to saidtripping mechanism, a restrictor plug on the upstream side of saidVenturi separate from said valve member, said plug tapering inwardly inthe downstream direction, and means resiliently biasing said plug in thedownstream direction, said plug having a larger maximum diameter thansaid venturi throat and seating in the venturi when iiuid iiow isinterrupted in said passage, said plug comprising a plurality offrusto-conical portions in substantially end to end relation, andshoulder means between at least two adjacent ones of said portions andfacing in the downstream direction, said plug including terminalcylindrical portions at the opposite ends.

6. In an automatic trip nozzle having a suction operating trippingmechanism; Ia body having a ow passage therethrough, a main valve membercontrolling said passage, and means in the ilow passage forming aventuri with a throat wherein suction is established by tlow of iluidthrough said passage, a channel leading from the venturi throat to saidtripping mechanism, a restrictor plug on the upstream side of saidventuri separate from said valve member, said plug tapering inwardly inthe downstream direction, Iand means resiliently biasing said plug inthe downstream direction, said plug having a larger maximum diameterthan said venturi throat and sealing in the venturi when fluid iiow isinterrupted in said passage, said plug comprising a plurality offrustoconical portions in substantially end to end relation, andshoulder means between at least two adjacent ones of said portions andfacing in the downstream direction, said plug including terminalcylindrical portions at the opposite ends, and a steep shoulder facingdownstream between the cylindrical portion at the downstream end of theplug `and the adjacent frusto-conical portion of the plug.

7. In a self tripping nozzle; a body having a tlow passage therethroughterminating in a discharge end, a valve member in the passage 4biasedtoward closed position and having a stem, a lever outside the bodyadjacent the stem, a plunger in the body pivotally connected to one end0f the lever and spring urged axially toward a iirst position andaxially movable into a second position, a latch en- .gageable with theplunger to hold it in said second position, suction operated meansconnected to the latch operable to withdraw the latch and release theplunger upon t-he development of a predetermined degree of suction insaid means, said lever being movable about its pivotal connection withsaid plunger to open said valve member only when the plunger is in saidsecond position, a vent-uri in said passage adjacent the discharge endthereof and having a throat, a channel leading from said venturi throatto said suction operated means, a restrictor plug in the valve body onthe upstream side of said venturi separate from said valve memberextending into the venturi and tapering inwardly in the downstreamdirection, spring means biasing said plug toward the venturi, said plugbeing larger in diameter than said venturi so as to seat thereon in theabsence of iluid ow in said passage, `and a discharge tube on said bodyleading from the discharge end of the ilow passage and including vacuumrelief passage means leading from a point on the tube to said suctionoperated means, said venturi being in the form of ring means in thedischarge end of the flow passage, and abutment means on said dischargetube 'holding the ring means in place.

`8. In a self tripping nozzle; a body having a flow passage therethroughterminating in a discharge end, a valve member in the passage biasedtoward closed position and having a stem, a lever outside the bodyadjacent lthe stem, a plunger in .the body pivotally connected to oneend of the lever and spring urged axially toward a first position andaxially movable into -a second position, a latch engageable with theplunger to hold it in said second position, suction operated meansconnected to the latch operannesse able to withdraw the latch andrelease the plunger upon the `development `of a predetermined degree ofsuction in said means, said lever being movable about its pivotalconnection with said plunger to .open said valve member only when theplunger is in said second position, a venturi in said passage adjacentthe discharge end thereof and having a throat, a channel leading fromsaid ventur-i throat to said suction operated means, a restrictor plugin the valve body on the upstream side of said venturi extending intothe venturi separate from said valve member and tapering inwardly in thedownstream direction, spring means biasing said plug toward the venturi,said plug being larger in diameter than said venturi so as to seatthereon in the absence of iuid ow in said passage, and a discharge tubeon said body leading from the discharge end of the liow passage andincluding vacuum relief passage means leading from a point on the tubeto said suction operated means, said venturi being in the form of ringmeans in the discharge end of the ow passage, and abutment means on saiddischarge tube holding the ring means in place, said ring meanscomprising two abutting rings defining the throat of said venturi wherethe rings abut, a cavity formed around the rings, and channel meansleading from the cavity to the throat of said venturi, said cavity`being a part of said vacuum relief passage means.

9. In a dispensing nozzle having a body with a flow passage therethroughhaving a discharge end, a valve member in the passage for selectivelycontrolling Huid dow therein, a seat in the ilow passage at thedischarge end thereof, a plug in the valve body on the upstream side ofsaid seat separate from said valve member and engageable with the seat,said plug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction from a diametergreater than that of said seat to a diameter smaller than that of saidseat,

spring means biasing the plug toward the seat, the fluid operable areaon the plug upstream of said seat being responsive to pressure in saidow passage upstream of said seat urging said plug away from said seat,and another uid operable area on the plug responsive to pressure in saidow passage downstream of said seat for urging the plug toward said seat.

10. In a dispensing nozzle having a body with a flo-w passagetherethrough having a discharge end, a valve member in the passage forselectively controlling flow therein, a seat in the tlow passage at thedischarge end thereof, a plug in the valve body on .the upstream side ofsaid seat separate from said valve member engageable with the seat, saidplug tapering inwardly in the downstream direction fr-om a diametergreater than that of said seat to a diameter smaller than .that of saidseat, a recess in the body reciproca-bly receiving said plug, a springin the recess biasing said plug toward said scat, a passage connectingsaid recess with the downstream side of the plug, spring means biasingthe plug toward the seat, the liuid operable area on the plug upstreamof said seat being responsive to pressure in said tiow passage up streamof said seat for urging said plug away from said seat, the end of theplug in said recess forming a iluid operable area responsive to pressurein the ow passage downstream of said `seat for urging said plug towardsaid seat.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS LAVERNE D.GEIGER, Prima/'y Examiner.

1. IN AN AUTOMATIC NOZZLE; A BODY HAVING A FLOW PASSAGE THERETHROUGH, AMAIN VALVE MEMBER IN THE FLOW PASSAGE, MEANS FOR LATCHING THE VALVEMEMBER IN OPEN POSITION INCLUDING SUCTION OPERATED TRIPPING MEANS FORTRIPPING THE VALVE MEMBER CLOSED UPON THE DEVELOPMENT OF A PREDETERMINEDDEGREE OF SUCTION IN THE TRIPPING MEANS, A VENTURI IN THE FLOW PASSAGEDOWNSTREAM OF THE VALVE MEMBER, SAID VENTURI HAVING A THROAT WHEREINSUCTION IS ESTABLISHED BY FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID PASSAGE, A CHANNELLEADING FROM THE VENTURI THROAT TO SAID TRIPPING MEANS, A RESTRICTORPLUG ON THE UPSTREAM SIDE OF SAID VENTURI SEPARATE FROM SAID VALVEMEMBER AND EXTENDING INTO SAID VENTURI, SAID PLUG TAPERING INWARDLY INTHE DOWNSTREAM DIRECTION, AND MEANS RESILIENTLY BIASING SAID PLUG IN THEDOWNSTREAM DIRECTION.